Cotton separator



July 16, 1929.

J. A. STREUN COTTON SEPARATOR Filed May 4, 1928 TO SUCTION IA'VENTOR A TTORNEY Patented July 16, 1929.

JOHN ARNOLD STREUN, OF SHERMAN, TEXAS.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

Application filed May 4, 1928. Serial No. 275,085.

My invention relates to cotton separators or cleaners for separating the dirt and chaff from the cottonbefore it is fed to the gin.

It is an object of the invention to provide aseparator having a suction flue connected therewith and in which provision is made for the equalizing of the cotton distribution in the device so that there is a uniform arrangement of the cotton along the full width of the separator.

It is desired to provide a cleaning cylinder wherein the relative amount of suction at the ends thereof may be controlled.

Referring to the drawing herewith Fig. 1 is a central horizontal section through a cotton cleaner embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the device. Like numerals of reference are employed to denominate like parts in both of these figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cylinder 1 of perforated sheet metal or of other foraminated construction through which the air may easily pass. This cylinder is mounted upon a central shaft 2 mounted for rotation within a housing having side walls 3. Connected with the sides adjacent to the ends of the cylinder are suction flues 4 and 4, the outer walls of which are spaced slightly from the ends of the housing and of the same width as the diameter of the cylinder, as is indicated by the dotted lines 5 in Fig. 2. The shaft 2 projects beyond the side walls 3 of the housing and has bearings at 6 within the side walls of the casing 4.

The housing is shaped to conform to the shape of the cylinder, the upper wall 7 being spaced above the cylinder a suitable distance and is curved at 8 to conform to the curvature of the cylinder. Below the curved portion 8 is a door 9 through which access may be had to the interior of the cylinde Below the cylinder the housing is extended downwardly and shaped to house a rotating valve member 10. Said valve member is made up of two end discs 11 mounted upon a shaft 12 and having outwardly extending wings or flights 13 to the outer edges of which are secured flexible wiping members 14. The wings 13 are reinforced between adjacent members by boards 15 forming between the adjacent wings, chambers in which the cotton may be received. The side walls 16 and 17 of the casing are curved on the arc of a circle and spaced from the valve member a suflicient distance to allow the wipers 14 to engage therewith so as to prevent the passage of air upwardly past the valve. Below the valve memr is an outlet pipe 18 leading to the gin. It is to be notedthat the valve member is spaced below the cleaning cylinder 1 a suflicient distance so that the wiping members 14 will engage with the lower face of the cylinder.

At the forward upper end of the housing 18 an inlet flue 19 through which the cot ton is blown into the housing above the cylinder 1, by means of a blower in the usual manner.

The casing 4 connected with the end Walls of the housing makes connection with the walls 3 immediately adjacent to the rearward side of end openings 20 in the said walls 3. Said casing forms a flue extending forwardly from the housing and these flues are curved toward each other at the forward SIdG Of the housing and are joined for connection at 22 with an outlet passage 23 through which the dust and chaff are discharged to the outside of the cleaner.

The cylinder 1 is divided into two chambers by a transverse partition 24 midway of the length of the cylinder. In this manner the suction from the outlet passage 23 is exerted at each end upon the half of the cylinder adjacent to the end through which the suction is exerted. In each of the casings v4 at the end of the cylinder I provide a valve 26;

said valve extending the full width of the passage. Said valve is mounted upon a vertical shaft 26 projecting at the lower end of the casing and having means 27 thereon through which the valve may be moved to close or partially close the passage 28 through the flue at the end of the cylinder.

In the use of my device the cotton is fed to the cleaning cylinder from the blower by way of the passage 19. It is thrown above the cylinder toward the rearward end thereof by the force of the blower. At the rearward side of the cylinder it comes within the influence of the suction exerted through the ends of the cylinder and the chaff and dirt are drawn through the perforations in the walls of the cylinder and are carried out through the chute 28 to the outlet passage 23. The cotton is carried by the rotation of the cylinder downwardly to the rearward side thereof and at the lower side of the cylinder,

the cotton is wiped from the outer wall of said cylinder by the wipers 14 and it then falls into the chambers between the adjacent wings 13 and is carried by the rotation of the valve downwardly and discharged through the outlet 18.

Difficulty is frequently encountered in devices of this character due to the uneven distribution of the cotton along the outer walls of the cylinder. I control the distribution of the cotton by the regulation of the valves 25. If the cotton tends to increase in thickness at one end of the cylinder the force of the suction at theopposite end is increased by opening the valve and regulating the position of the valve 25 at the end Where the accumulation occurs. By a proper control of the valves it is possible to cause the cotton to form in uniform layers along the cleaning cylinder and be discharged in that condition to the gin. I have found that a better cleaning action is obtained upon the cotton. The feeding of the cotton is even and uniform distribution to the gin results also in a better action of the gin itself.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A cotton separator including a housing, a foraminated cylinder rotatable therein,

means transversely of said cylinder to divide it into two parts, a suction flue connected at each end ofsaid cylinder, a valve in each flue, means to regulate said valve, means to feed cotton to said housing, a single feeder roll to close said passage, to wipe the cotton from said cylinder, and to move the cotton from said housing.

2. A cotton separator including a housing, a rotating foraminated cylinder therein, means dividing said cylinder transversely into two chambers, separator suction flues connected With each end of said cylinder, means to control the degree of suction in each flue, and a single combination feeder and wiper roller to remove the cotton from said cylinder and housing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 21 day of April, A, D. 1928.

JOHN ARNOLD STREUN. 

